Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,678, William Fosdick, Conn.

SERVICE
Conn.
Fosdick, William
NUMBER
R. 3678
CONTENTS

State of New-York, } ss. Allegany County . }
On this twenty ninth day of October in the year of our Lord 1834 personally appeared in open Court before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of 5 County now sitting, William Fosdick, a resident of the town of Nishqua in the county of Allegany and state of New-York aforesaid aged Seventy two years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 1 st 1832 —
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated — to wit,
1 st — In the summer of the year 1778 he entered the service of the United States as a substitute for Timothy Cole of East Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, served as a fifer three months in Capt. Fellows Company under Colonel Ledyard — joined the army at New London and was stationed at Fort Griswold — Returned home in October to his Fathers in East Windsor, Hartford County & state of Connecticut — The above was in the Militia. 2 nd — That on or about the eighth of July 1779 he entered the service of the United States for Ebenezer Gilman of Hartland — state of Connecticut, joined the army at Litchfield Courthouse in the state of Connecticut under Colonel Canfield in Captain Pomroy's Company of Militia, Lieutenant Cook was of the same Company, Marched to Danbury, drew provisions from Military stores kept in a Church or meeting house, the rest of Danbury having been previously burnt, Drew no other provisions but salt had during the seven first days, after which (harvest having commenced) the troops obtained rye meal — staid two or three days longer & marched through Bedford, Norwalk & Stamford to Horseneck where he was stationed until some time in January 1780 having served six months as a fifer including some time allowed him for returning home to his Fathers house in East Windsor
3 rd — That some time in the month of January 1780, and but a very short time after his return home as last above stated he again went into the service of the United States as a substitute for his oldest Brother Lawrence Fosdick of East Windsor, and was marched through New Haven — crossed Stratford Ferry, through Norwalk and joined the army at Palmers hill in a Company commanded by Capt. or Lieut Gaylor, under the Command of Colonel Bebee occupied a house called Palmers house for Barracks until spring

early in the spring left Palmers hill and marched to Horse neck where the troops encamped in tents — Colonel Canfield's regt. was at Horse neck during a part or all the same period Col. Sheldon's regiment of light horse was also there a part of the time — That the said declarant states that he served in this Campaign six months for his s d Brother Lawrence Fosdick, and without leaving the service continued the greater part of three months longer at which time he had permission to go home on account of the scarcity of provisions, but had not gone more than eight or ten miles before he & others who were dismissed with him were recalled to Horse neck where he served the remainder of the last three months as a substitute for a Mr Humphrey.
And that during the s d six months which he served for his Brother and also the three months that he served for Mr Humphrey he served as a fifer under Col. Beebe but cannot be certain who commanded the company during the last three months — That he recollects distinctly being at Horse neck when he heard the first intelligence of Major Andre being taken as a spy and believes it was on the next morning after his recall as above stated.
This declarant also recollects that in the month of August during this campaign he was one of a party of about seventy under command of Capt. Gaylor & Lieut. Cook, which were which were chased by a large party of mounted refugees or Cow boys commanded by a man called Dullensee and in the skirmage Lieut Cook was badly wounded in the side that Col. Sheldon's Light Horse came to their relief, routed the refugees, killed some, mortally wounded one by the name of Thompson & carried him to Horse neck meeting house — That this declarant left the army & went home to his Fathers house in the latter part of October 1780 —
This declarant also states, that on or about the 1 st of August in the year 1781 he was drafted & entered the militia service of the United states at fort Brinsfield in Groton as a fifer in Captain Andre's company — served three months as such and returned home to his Fathers house in East Windsor in the first part of November

And the business of the troops at that station was, during the tour that of repairing Fort Griswold, the declarant knew no Colonel on the station. And the said declarant doth further state that he was born in East Windsor, as he has been told, in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut on the 27 th day of April in the Year 1762, and that he continued to reside in that place until some time in the month of March in the year 1783, at which time he moved to New Lebanon in the County of Columbia and State of New-York, where he resided two years, since which he has lived three years in Lanesborough in the County of Berkshire & state of Massachusetts — forty three years in the town of Hartford, Washington county and State of New York and between three and four years at his present residence — that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise day of the month on which he entered the service or on which he left it but recollects distinctly the length of the several terms for which he engaged & that he served them all out. Nor is he positive as to the rank of Capt. Gaylor, Lieut. Cook & Capt. Andrews but judges from his best recollection as to the part they took in the service. And the names of many officers with whom he served are lost to his recollection, they having been strangers to him, before and after the service. And this declarant further states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service, unless it should be what his younger brother Nathan Fosdick, of Conesus in Livingston County, could say which maybe considered circumstantial.
And this declarant further states that he made his declaration in this court in October term in the year 1832 and forwarded the papers to the Pension Office through the agency of Esq. Haight, an Attorney then in Court for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the act of the 7 th of June of that year; which papers were returned to that agent as appears by a communication from the War Department and are said to be lost & the said declarant has never seen them since, but in refering to the statement from the war department, this declarant is aware of an error of two years in the statement of his age which is now rectified by a reference to his record thereof, in his family bible.
Also in that declaration "the greater part of" 3 months services as the privateer Sloop of War Randolph, was reported, but omitted in this declaration by being advised that no pension would be allowed for such services — all other variations from the former declaration, are but revisions in this, from his better recollection —

And this declarant further states that the whole of his services as a substitute for the persons herein stated were rendered for those persons respectively who had been regularly drafted and called into actual service in the respective corps of Connecticut Militia and for the particular periods in which he served, and that his services were rendered & received satisfactorily, as well while a substitute as when called out on his own draft — and that during the time of each period of his service herein stated to have been performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit —
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state —
Chosen to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid W Sherman Clerk
William Forster

To William Lock Woodrick End! NY
A. H. Markland

State of New York } County of Albany }
Be it Known, that on this 20 day of December A. D. 185 2 before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Joel Fosdick
resident of Albany in said County, and made oath according to law that He is the son and legal heir of William Fosdick who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of A
That he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint C. W. BENNETT , of Washington City, my true and lawful Attorney to prosecute the claim of William Fosdick for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Department at Washington City or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D. C. Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
Joel Fosdick
Sworn to, Subscribed, and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said Joel Fosdick to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged.
James P. Green Justice of the Peace
State of New York } County of Albany }
It is Hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of Said County that Joel Fosdick the party who has sworn to, and acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney, is the child of the reputed soldier aforesaid. I further certify, that James P. Green Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office,
this Second day of December 185 2
John J. Rockafellow Co. Clerk Said Co.
1. Claimant's name or names in full.—2. Post Office address. 3. "That he is the identical man," or, "that she is the widow of the identical man," or, "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c., &c. 4. Leave this line blank.—5. "He is," "she is," or "they are."—6. Revolutionary soldier's full name.—7. Claimant's signature.—8. Claimant's name.—9. Magistrate's signature. 10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of."—11. Magistrate's name.—12. Clerk's signature.
N. B.—Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.

State of New-York } ss. Livingston County }
I Nathan Fosdick residing in the town of Conesus in the County of Livingston aforesaid do certify that I am well acquainted with William Fosdick who resides in the town of Angelica in the county of Allegany and state of New-York aforesaid, that he is my Brother, that during the time of the revolutionary war and some years afterwards I resided with my said brother William Fosdick in my Father's family in the town of East Windsor, Hartford County in the State of Connecticut, and after the war in New-Lebanon, Columbia county & state of New-York. — And I recollect distinctly that the said William Fosdick went into the service of the United States as a fifer to serve as a substitute to serve as a substitute for some person, cannot then certain for whom but believes for a man by the name of Galtman & believe he was gone three months, during the time, said William Fosdick was called sixteen years old, which, by referring to the family record, I find to have been in the year 1778 — And I am certain that he left home to go into the service several campaigns afterwards but cannot recollect how many, or how long he served on each tour, or how much in the whole but believe he served six months on one tour at least and not less than three months on the shortest tour.
Subscribed and sworn to this
Nathan Fosdick
24th day of October 1834
before me B. Fosdick justice
Certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Nathan Fosdick who subscribed and swore to the above affidavit that his character is fair and unimpeachable for his good and good moral character.
B. Fosdick justice

State of New York
Livingston County ss
I certify that Benona Fosdick Esquire before whom the within affidavit purports to have been made And Also whose name appears to the within certificate of credibility was at the date of the same a legally Authorized Justice of the Peace in and for the said county of Livingston. And that I am well acquainted with his hand writing & verily believe his name subscribed to the pural of the said affidavit & to the said certificate is his own proper hand writing & signature
Witness My hand And Seal of Office at Geneseo this 25 th day of October A.D. 1834.
Chauncy R. Bond Clerk of Livingston County. (and) By S. G. Hance Dep. Clk.

V.L.M. Rev. War Section.
December 5, 1918.
M. Catharine Gates, 1001 Eighth Avenue, Sheldon, Iowa.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the 11 th ultimo, you are advised that is alleged in the papers in the claim of William Foedick R. File No. 3,678 Revolutionary War, that soldier was born April 27, 1762 at East Windsor, Connecticut, and while residing there in the summer of 1778, served in Captain Fellows' Company, Colonel Ledyard's Connecticut Regiment 3 months.
From July 8 1779, 6 months in Captain Pomroy's Company, Colonel Canfield's Regiment.
From January 1780, 9 months in Captain Caylor's Company, Colonel Beebe's Regiment.
From August 11, 1781 to November 1781, in Captain Andrus' Company. In all of the above as a Fifer.
He also alleged 3 months service on the privateer sloop Randolph.
He married soon after the close of the Revolutionary War, name of wife is not stated, and in 1802 a daughter, whose name is not given, married Timothy Atwood.

In 1852 Joel Fosdick, a son, lived at Angelica, Allegany County, New York.
Soldier applied for pension October 29, 1834, while a resident of Angelica New York, but his claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish sufficient proof of his alleged services.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Soldier had brothers Lawrence & Nathan.

from Lordick dec.
Mr.
Act 1832
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, PENSION OFFICE, OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Commissioner

Hon L. P. Waldo, Commr of Pensions Pension Office.

New York
William Hosdick
Suspended
Lit to J. Atwood
26 Nov 34
Lit to H. E. Howill
Feb. 21. 1835
Hon Albert Smith 25 Feb 46
C W Bennett Aug 13/53
7 June 1832

La Grange N.Y. 6 th Nov
56
J. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions — Pension Office — Washington District of Columbia
Nov 11 Wm. F. Lock N.Y.
32265

Nov 11
Wm. Fordick NY
322265
La Danville Ky 6 th Nov
56
J. L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions — Pension Office — Washington District of Columbia

Dansville 4 th Nov. 1834 —
Sir,
Exchequer Agent and at the request of William Fosdick I herewith enclose to your department his declaration as certified in the Court of Com. Pleas in Allegany Co. as also the accompanying affidavit of his Brother, with the certificates thereto appended for examination
I suppose these papers to contain all the testimony on which he rests his claim to a pension — I would however observe that if additional Certificates of his reputable character would add strength to his claims, such certificates can yet be produced which would sustain his good name during forty years of his past life —
Any communications on this subject from the war department to said Fosdick may be addressed through me as agent as directed to South Dansville Post office in Dansville Steuben Co. N. York.
I Am Sir very respectfully Your Obedient Servt.
Timothy Atwood agent
J. L. Edwards Esq d Commissioner of Pensions

C. W. Bennett Aug. 31, 1873

459 Pension Office August 31. 1873.
Sir,
Your powers of Attorney in the cases of Thomas Reed, James Kip, Cruz Wheaton & W m Gordon of N. York, Capt. Yates of Conn. and Charles Boyer of Vermont, have been received & filed in the respective cases.
When material additional evidence is filed in these cases they will be re-examined and reported to you
C. M. Bennett Present

Non ex-...
Feb 25 '46

472
Prussian Office February 25 1846
Sir
I have the honor to return herewith Mr. Snyder's letter, and to enclose a copy of my letters of the 26 th Novr 1834, to Timothy Stone in the case of William Forster, and of the 22 nd Septm 1838 in the case of Samuel Drew, from which you will learn the situation of their Claims, and the proof required to sustain them.
Wm Albert Smith House of Reps

Washington
Hon L. P. Waldo. Com r of Pensions
Sir
I have the honor of enclosing herewith a power of attorney executed by the heirs of William Fosdick dec d of the State of New York. whose claim under act of July 7 th 1832. has been suspended.
I hope to be enabled to file additional evidence in the case sufficient to establish establish the claim before it comes up for examination.
Very Respectfully Your Ob t Serv t . C. W. Bennett.

Am. & Howill
Feb. 21. 1833
W.C.
Ms. A. 9. 2. 30, p. 383

War Department Pension Office
Feb. 21. 1835
Sir The papers relating to the claim of William Fordick have again  been been examined - On the examination which took place in November last, the claimant was required to produce some further evi- dence been referred to the  in order to obtaining a  on that  of the  following was referred to the Comptroller of the State of Connecticut and as soon as that evidence is obtained a decision on the  can may be effected The papers are on file
H. E. Howe Home Repts MS

1916 Dec. 5 - Hist. to M Catharine Gates.
3678.
REJECTED
P. O.
W m Fosdick
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Feb 9
William Fosdick
Esq.
Adelphi at London
Hon. E. Howell H.R.
Will be obliged to you by having the same from your obedt servt -

I Eli Carrington of Dansville in the County of Steuben & state of New-York, being duly sworn depose & say, that I have been intimately acquainted with William Fosdick now of the town of Angelia, in the County of Allegany & State aforesaid during the term of fifty one Years or more, and that it was a general report in the neighborhood, and particularly in his Father's family, at the period of my first acquaintance with him, & for several years afterwards that he had been in the revolutionary War, have heard his Father say he, William, had been a foolish boy for going into the army so much — have heard his brother Laurence Fosdick say S d William had serv d one tour in the revolutionary War for him as a substitute
And I do further say that I verily believe his story in relation to his service in the revolutionary war was never doubted in the vicinity where he has been mostly known
And I do further say that I have been always called by an age which would make me to have been sixty two Years old the sixth day of March 1834 — and that during my acquaintance asith S d Fosdick he has been called ten years older than myself or very nearly, & that I have no doubt of his being seventy two years old last spring
And I do further say that I am well acquainted with Timothy Atwood of Dansville Steuben County, & that he is the son-in-law of S d W m Fosdick, and his present agent in applying for a pension under the act of Congress &c. — that I know him to sustain a reputable character and believe his story is entitled to full credit
Dansville 23 d Jan y 1835 Eli Carrington
Sworn to & subscribed before me at Dansville the 23 d day of Jan y 1835 Aaron W. Beech J. P.
I Certify that I am well acquainted with E. Carrington who swore to, & subscribed the above affidavit & believe him to be a man of unquestionable veracity
Dansville 23 d Jan y 1835 Aaron W. Beech

I Timothy Atwood of Dansville in the County of Steuben and State of New-York, having been duly sworn, depose and say, that I have been well acquainted with William Fosdick, now of the town of Angelica, County of Allegany and State aforesaid, ever since the year 1796 and much of said term have resided in his immediate neighborhood — In the year 1802 I was married to his Daughter — heard it remarked as a family talk about that time, and a number of times since that he was married to my wife's mother soon after the close of the War (of the revolution) and was 7 years older than she was — and about that period have frequently heard him relate anecdotes of occurrences which, as he said, happened while he was in the army, and before I was married I recollect, seeing him performing duty at trainings as a fifer, and of hearing it remarked by others that he had been a fifer in the revolutionary War and believe it was never doubted in the town of Hartford, Washington County & State of New-York, where he then lived and for many years afterwards — I was, at S d Hartford also well acquainted with said Fosdick's parents, and his Wife's parents & Grand parents and a very extensive family of Brothers, Sisters and other family connections all residing at the Period of my marriage & for several years before & afterwards in Hartford & its vicinity — many of which are since dead & the residue principally dispersed, have heard it several times spoken of among his relatives as a matter of fact that he had been a soldier of the revolution but never as a matter of doubt
And I do further say that I am said William Fosdick's agent in applying at this time for a pension — that I drafted his affidavit or declaration in October last at his residence in Angelica according to his request and on his statement to me that his age was 72 years last April I discovered that it had been stated at about 72 years in his statement two years before according to an abstract of that statement in a printed communication from the War Department addressed to "Robert Haight agent" — I mentioned the discrepancy to Mr. Fosdick & he assured me he had no recollection of authorizing such a statement 2 years before, but if he had he must have been mistaken and to prove the correctness of his present statement he produced his record of his birth in a large Bible in which it had been transcribed from an old Bible in my own handwriting more than 20 years ago
And I do further say that while I was drafting said last declaration for the said William Fosdick, S d Fosdick did state to me that while serving on a certain tour, the regiment (or troops) "got out of provisions & that himself" and a number of others were "discharged on that account & started for home a short time" "before his time was out for which he had engaged, and that on his way he was recalled by orders from the Officers & others with him"

" And that he returned & served out the residue of the term for which he had been engaged, and again entered the service for a Mr. Humphrey whose given name he could not then recollect And I do also say that the words underscored above, to wit, & served out the residue of the term for which he had been engaged, was omitted by me through mistake, and noticed at the time; and that I attempted to cure the mistake in recapitulating the length of both said terms respectively for whom performed and that he served the whole of said terms as a fifer, and also in stating in an after sentence that in all cases he served faithfully the full term for which he had engaged (or nearly in such words) all which he previously stated to me to be facts and believed as well as myself, at the time that it was a sufficient explanation of said mistake — And that he did further state that the troops had a supply of provisions on his recall & that directly after his return he heard the first intelligence of the capture of Major Andre, the British spy — intimating thereby thereby that he believed one or both of those circumstances had influenced his recall as aforesaid And I do further state that during the whole period of my acquaint- -ance with said Fosdick, he has maintained a good reputable standing in society & that I verily believe his story is entitled to full credit — — that he has been a mechanic and that his learning is very limited so much so as hardly to enable him to keep his own accounts intelligibly —
Timothy Atwood
Sworn to & subscribed before me at Dansville the 23 d day of Jan'y. 1835
Aaron W. Beach J.P.
I certify that I am well acquainted with Timothy Atwood who subscribed & swore to the above affidavit & that he sustains a good reputation for truth & veracity, & I verily believe his story is intitled to credit —
Dansville 23 d of Jan'y 1835
Aaron W. Beach
State of New York } County of Steubenville } I William H. Ball Clerk of said County do hereby certify that Aaron W. Beach Esquire, before whom the several affidavits above and within mentioned were taken was at the time of taking the same one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County duly Commissioned and sworn — that I am well acquainted with his handwriting and verily believe his several signatures to be genuine — In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office } at Batts this 26 th day of January 1835. } Wm. H. Ball Clk.

We Holden E. Prosser a Clergyman residing in the town of Anjelica in the county of Allegany and Simon D. Witt Drown residing in the same place, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Fosdick who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy two years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the revolution and that we concur in that opinion — sworn & subscribed the day 1 year aforesaid V. H. Newman Clerk Holden E. Prosser Simon D. Drown
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Holden E. Prosser who has signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Anjelica and County of Allegany aforesaid, and that Simon D. Witt Drown who has also signed the same, is a resident of the same place and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit —
Andrew C. Hall First Judge Daniel L. Gilman Josiah Miller Judges

State of New York Albany County ss
I Francis W Shenman Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Hosdick for a pension In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 30 th day of October 1834 F W Shenman Clerk

32.265
William Fosdick
19739
19739

1 Stamped Enve (2c) incl Stamp enr ret'd Sheldon, Iowa. P Nov. 11, 1916.
Pension Department, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir —
Would you kindly give me any information you may have concerning William Fordick, who was a fifer throughout the Revolutionary War. If there is any expense attached to the gaining of this information, please advise

me as to the pro- ceedings.
Very truly yours, M. Catharine Bates, 1001- 8" Av., Sheldon, Iowa.